Thursday's betting tips

Weather watch

-- Thunderstorms are in the forecast for Kauffman Stadium, where the Royals host the Rangers Thursday. There’s a 70 percent chance of showers in the later hours of the evening, which could soak the later innings.

Betting news and notes

-- The Marlins are a staggering 17 games under .500 in manager Ozzie Guillen’s first year at the helm. Miami has just two victories during a nine-game homestand that ends Thursday. The Fish are -122 home faves for the series finale with the Brewers.

-- The Nationals are trying to complete their second four-game sweep in a month. They swept four from Houston from Aug. 6-9, with P Jordan Zimmermann winning the final game of the series. Zimmermann hit a career high for wins back on Aug. 9, but he is winless in four starts since and he's coming off his worst outing of the year. Washington is a -230 favorite in Chicago Thursday.

-- Pittsburgh has won its last four Big East openers, and five of its last six. Panthers are 6-1 ATS in their last seven meetings with Thursday’s opponent, Cincinnati, and 20-7 ATS in their last 27 conference contests. Pitt is a 4-point road underdog Thursday.

-- Tomas Berdych upset Roger Federer in the quarterfinals of the U.S. Open Wednesday. He’s priced at +900 to win the final Grand Slam of the season. Novak Djokovic is the favorite at -125.

-- Browns CB Joe Haden is expected to play versus the Eagles in Week 1 with his four-game ban for a positive drug test expected to start in Week 2. Haden is one of the better shutdown corners in the NFL and will be assigned to Eagles WR DeSean Jackson. Cleveland is a 9-point underdog versus Philadelphia in Week 1.

-- Blue Jays catcher J.P. Arencibia is expected to return behind home plate for Friday’s game against the Red Sox. Arencibia missed time due to a fractured hand suffered on July 25.